3k oil change?

[britguy]

I know the next scheduled service after 600 is 6k, but should I consider doing a home 3k mile oil and filter change?...what do you do?

...and what 'off the shelf' oil is recommended, rather than take a trip to my dealer and buying the BMW brand.

Thanks.

[celticus]

I have been wondering about this myself.
Mark

[OlyVR]

I was planning on doing that myself and decided to use Harley-Davidson 20W50 oil.
Most aftermarket companies (Mobil, Amsoil etc.) have synthetic oil and I don't want to use it before 6k miles.

Due to their extensive dealer network, HD oil is usually very accessible and designed for Air-Cooled motorcycle engines.

[deilenberger]

I actually see no reason at all to do 3,000 mile oil changes unless you're riding the bike in the Amazon jungles, Sahara desert or Antarctica..

ANY decent oil is capable of providing excellent protection for 6,000 miles. IMHO most oils will provide excellent protection for more than 10,000 miles. Early changes achieve nothing but making you "feel good" about doing them. Your money can be much more wisely spent Farkleizing(tm) your bike..

If you do want to go ahead and waste fossil resources - please do us all a favor. Take a sample of your 3,000 (2,400 actually) mile oil and send it to Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/index.html and have the sample analyzed. I suspect the results you get may make you rethink short interval oil changes.

I'll be doing exactly that when I change my oil at 12,000 miles - since the BMW synthetic is of interest to me - I'd like to know how much further I could have run this oil safely... and yes - I've done this on other BMW bikes (typically Mobil-1 can safely be used for well over 10,000 miles.)

[deilenberger]

Oh - just one other comment. As long as the bike is under BMW warranty - mine will receive BMW oil. It's not that onerous to pick up a supply while Farklebrowsing at the dealer on a Saturday. This provides a record of oil changes that could be used if any warranty question occurs..

Aftermarket oil? Well - BMW specifically requires SF ratings on oils used in their engines.. and a lot of the newer energy saving oils don't provide that level of protection.

[britguy]

I actually see no reason at all to do 3,000 mile oil changes unless you're riding the bike in the Amazon jungles, Sahara desert or Antarctica..

.)

I am sure the oil will still have a lot of life left after 3k miles.......but I was thinking more along the lines of a new engine and removing any particles from break in.

I just raised this same question with the dealership mechanic and his opinion is that a 3k mile oil change is a good idea ....so me thinks I will go ahead and do it, using oil and filter purchased at the dealership....even if its to just makes me feel good.

[maduko]

If using dino juice a 3k mile interval is not a bad idea.

However, a good synthetic oil is a better choice for most motorcycles. I use Castrol Syntec and have never had any complaint.

I have never used "motorcycle oil" in the BMWs since they do not have a wet clutch. Bikes with a wet clutch can benefit from a less slippery oil.

Oh... buy a magnetic drain plug.

[deilenberger]

I actually see no reason at all to do 3,000 mile oil changes unless you're riding the bike in the Amazon jungles, Sahara desert or Antarctica..

.)

I am sure the oil will still have a lot of life left after 3k miles.......but I was thinking more along the lines of a new engine and removing any particles from break in.

That should have happened at the 600 mile service when they changed the oil.. Any bits that were going to scarf off during break-in have done so by 600 miles IMHO.

I just raised this same question with the dealership mechanic and his opinion is that a 3k mile oil change is a good idea ....so me thinks I will go ahead and do it, using oil and filter purchased at the dealership....even if its to just makes me feel good.

If it's a feel-good go for it, but I don't think the bike will benefit at all. If you take the theory of short oil changes being good for the bike to their logical conclusion - you'd have to change the oil every time you ran the engine... or even better yet - never run the engine and nothing can wear.

My Roadster is for riding.. (and Farkleizing..)

[deilenberger]

If using dino juice a 3k mile interval is not a bad idea.

I gotta ask - why? I mean... I grew up in the era when oil companies touted 1k oil changes - and I did them and the garage I did them at used to save my oil to use in their own cars. Then 3k changes came along about 40 years ago - and I did them. Now the manufacturer says 6k is OK, so WHY is 3K a good idea? What is it accomplishing (facts please) that a 6K change won't?

However, a good synthetic oil is a better choice for most motorcycles. I use Castrol Syntec and have never had any complaint.

I have never used "motorcycle oil" in the BMWs since they do not have a wet clutch. Bikes with a wet clutch can benefit from a less slippery oil.

Oh... buy a magnetic drain plug.

The only reason to use BMW motorcycle oil is the level of extreme pressure additives that are in the oil. The new automotive formulations have lowered the level of these additives (which are actually forms of metal such as lithium, and phosphorus) to prevent poisoning the catalytic converters cars (and our bikes) use.

About 5 years ago - BMW came out with a warranty directive stating that engines that could be proven to have used any oil that didn't meet SG ratings would not be covered for warranty repairs. Starting with SH formula oils - the extreme pressure additives were being reduced.

The EP additives may never be needed.. if your oil never gets hot enough to start to break down - but chances of this happening are much greater on an oil/air cooled engine than on a water cooled engine - so I'm guessing that's BMW reasoning behind the warranty disclaimer.

Will a good automotive oil work OK in a BMW engine? With a classic (in-line) K bike engine - sure, it's water cooled with a dry clutch. With the new transverse K bike engines, which have a wet clutch, and the airhead/oilhead/hexhead engines which are basically air cooled - it will probably work fine for 99.99% of the time, but I'd be a tiny bit concerned about the 0.01% of the time when the engines get too hot.

Oil is pretty much a religious thing - as are oil changes.. so feel free to believe in the oil theory of your choice.

[britguy]

My Roadster is for riding.. (and Farkleizing..) [/quote]


......223 posts since May...are you sure you find enough time to ride

(just playing with you)


I was going to also ask about changing the final drive oil on a more regular basis, ...dont know if I should bother now

[r12r-don]

I'm actually about to do a 3k mile oil change. I noticed the oil is much dirtier and realize it probably has more life but me not like it when it gets that thick black. My 2000 R1100RT's oil window clouded up way too much after 6 years. Not sure if I didn't do oil changes enough or not using BMW oil. Either way, this baby gets BMW oil only and regular oil changes. Probably every 3k.

[r12r-don]

Ok, where is the drain plug? I found a plug and have to get an allen bit big enoug for it. But other threads talk about two plugs and the second has been un-identified. Help me - want to do a 3k change but am paranoid now. Anyone have pics or diagrams and wrench bit size?

[deilenberger]

.....223 posts since May...are you sure you find enough time to ride

(just playing with you)

And 7,000 miles since may - so that's 31.4 MPP (MilesPerPosting).. That doesn't count browsing the web for Farkles..

I was going to also ask about changing the final drive oil on a more regular basis, ...dont know if I should bother now

Actually - I'll probably do my rear drive again (it was done at 600) at 12k. I'm going to be actively looking for the very special Castrol lube BMW recommends in the R1200R Service DVD... Wonder if any of our over the pond friends want to help out with finding Castrol SAF-XO? Have to check if NippyNormans carries it..

A note on the rear drive - which may start something - ya' never know..

On the service specifications on the R1200 service DVD - the rear drive is the only fluid (aside from the hydraulic clutch fluid) in the bike that BMW specifies a specific oil for - the Castrol above. ALL the other fluids are referred to as generics - "DOT 4 Brake Fluid", "Name brand hypoid-gear oil SAE 90 API, GL5", "Engine oil, 20W-50".. From my experience with BMW cars - which goes back quite a ways (even a bit further than the bikes..) when BMW mentions a specific fluid - there is reason for it. Given how a few R1200 rear drives have failed on people, I think this is one instance where I'm going by the "book". If you ask the BMW dealers - they're using the a synthetic GL5 fluid..

[deilenberger]

Ok, where is the drain plug? I found a plug and have to get an allen bit big enoug for it. But other threads talk about two plugs and the second has been un-identified. Help me - want to do a 3k change but am paranoid now. Anyone have pics or diagrams and wrench bit size?

The ONLY plug you should be removing is the one in the bottom of the oil pan. It's in the right front corner of the pan. There is no other plug you should be removing. A few people I know have removed what looks like a drain plug on the side of the engine block to find it's the oil pressure relief valve.

BTW - I'd suggest getting a crush washer before doing this. BMW now only sells plugs with crush washers at most dealers. I've got to find a source for the drain plug ones..

[ka5ysy]

I did a 3000 mile oil change due to the fact the dinosaur oil the dealership put in at the 600 mile service was getting very dark and also the fact that we were having high 90 temps around town when doing a lot of low speed riding.

I pulled a change with synthetic, and just did the 6000 mile service and changed all the fluids. Engine is now Amsoil motorcycle synthetic, and the transmission and final drive were serviced with Mobil-1 GL-5 full synthetic gear lube. Personally, I much prefer premium synthetics due to their ability to handle very high temperatures without coking and loss of shear strength. All jet engines use only synthetics for these reasons.

[Ves]

The other thing to consider is, if you're occasionally topping off the oil, you add new fresh molecules and additives each time. That will extend your oil change interval also.

[OlyVR]

That only works if your bike is burning oil.
My R12 doesn't seem to use much, whereas my Chang smokes like crazy.

[IainW]

I was planning on doing that myself and decided to use Harley-Davidson 20W50 oil.
Most aftermarket companies (Mobil, Amsoil etc.) have synthetic oil and I don't want to use it before 6k miles.

Due to their extensive dealer network, HD oil is usually very accessible and designed for Air-Cooled motorcycle engines.

Blasphemy! Can you not get banned from this board for mentioning the H word? Seriously, if it meets the spec quoted in the handbook it'll be OK.

I pulled a change with synthetic, and just did the 6000 mile service and changed all the fluids. Engine is now Amsoil motorcycle synthetic, and the transmission and final drive were serviced with Mobil-1 GL-5 full synthetic gear lube. Personally, I much prefer premium synthetics due to their ability to handle very high temperatures without coking and loss of shear strength. All jet engines use only synthetics for these reasons.

Castrol make synthetic oils for jet engines, they also worked with BMW to make the best oil for their boxer twins and came up with a mineral oil, GP 20w/50.

Actually - I'll probably do my rear drive again (it was done at 600) at 12k. I'm going to be actively looking for the very special Castrol lube BMW recommends in the R1200R Service DVD... Wonder if any of our over the pond friends want to help out with finding Castrol SAF-XO? Have to check if NippyNormans carries it..

In the spirit of 'over the pond friends' you can get all your Castrol oils here...http://www.promapac.co.uk they're very nice people.

This whole oil change thing is not rocket science, BMW and Castrol have done all that for us. All we need to do is use what they say, and as often as they say. They've even written it down in the book for us.